One of the joys of my career has been working on World Premiers of new plays. It is truly gratifying to be part of the process of birthing a new play and bringing it to life for an audience. This year I am lucky enough to work on two such productions as an actor which is a first for me.
I am currently rehearsing the World Premier of my friend and colleague, Madhuri Shekar’s, new play “House of Joy” at Cal Shakes. Directed by Megan Sandberg-Zakian, the play shares life in the harem of a Mughal Emperor sometime in the 17th century and follows the evolution of a young female bodyguard who learns that life inside a sequestered paradise may not offer all that it promises. I play the head bodyguard of the harem, Gulal, who manages her elite force of female fighters with a combination of discipline and compassion. It’s a thrill to play such an unapologetically powerful woman, and I look forward to introducing this play to Bay area audiences.
The cast includes Lipica Shah, Rotimi Agbabiaka, Rinabeth Apostol, Raji Ahsan, Sango Tajima, and Emma Van Lare. Leslie M. Radin stage manages.
“House of Joy” begins performances on August 14th. Tickets can be purchased here.